The best time to do good in now.
The best place to do good is here.
In today’s interconnected world, where the media bring news around the world instantaneously, there are so many issues demanding my attention. There is the persecution of Christians in the Middle East, the ebola epidemic in Africa, the unmitigated corruption back home in the Philippines, the growing belligerence of China. The list in long and almost endless. And I want to do something about everything. In the end, I end up anxious, angry, and paralyzed into inaction and eventually into uncaring.
But given my here and now, I can always choose to do something. I cannot stop the persecutions in the Middle East but I can be more open and more accepting of the people I meet in my everyday life. I cannot go to Africa to take care of the sick but I can practice caring and sharing with the people who will come into my life today. I can practice good hygiene and encourage others to do so. I cannot stop the corruption in the Philippines but I can engage in discussions and dialogues on how to combat these stories of venality via the same media that brought me the news. I can do nothing to stop China from encroaching on other countries’ territory but I can pray for peace in the world.
Many times, I am not sure and even become frustrated that my efforts are worth anything in addressing these issues. But I can be sure that there will be one less person giving in to hating and anger, one more person giving and sharing with others. Even the vast universe started with one tiny spark that triggered the big bang.
Behave like God as his very dear children.
~Psalm 1
Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath.
And a woman was there who for eighteen years
had been crippled by a spirit;
she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect.
When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said,
“Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.”
He laid his hands on her,
and she at once stood up straight and glorified God.
Luke 13:10-13